Live from the Pathway Studios in Johnston proper. You are live from the Path. And you're listening to live from the Path coming to you from the Pathway studio here at Johnston Proper.

I came in here today. There was a dead mass. Yeah. So I don't know I don't know if you were listening to the show last week. So in fact, we could we probably already talked about it after the podcast. But, like, we were trying to put a show on, and there's just Mouse is just, like, you know, doing the freaky deaky around the room. You know? It a little fella? Wait. Can we say the freaky deaky on KTIA? It's already done. Okay. There it is. So, anyways, so he's running around the room. Right? And Boo Boo was supposed to stop him, and he does a terrible job. Yeah. I was awful. He's the world's, worst mouse ghoulie. Yep. And so the the mouse gets out. We can't find him, so we let him go.

I come into the studio this week to to try to get the show set up, and I can smell it. There's some sort of smell in here. It's a funk. And I thought, man, that's that's rough, whatever that is. That's that's not good. And so I start sifting around. I couldn't find it. So I I kept trying to type away and get my thing set up. And and I peeked around this monitor that I'm sitting at here, and there's like a Tupperware container where we had some no bake cookies. Yeah. And if I remember correctly, they were, delicious. So and it sounds like the mouse may have thought the same. Because I I look in there, and sure enough, he's crawled in there, eaten the remain the remnants

of the Dobay cookies, and then apparently couldn't get his fat butt out after he ate all the cookie crumbs. And then he he pooped a lot, and then he died in there. That was pretty much his week. I hope that yours was better. No doubt. Yeah. But I'm It was. I'm concerned that it's not because, you've decided to join us here on live from the Path. Thank you very much for joining us. Here's what we got on the show tonight. So the here's the big thing on the docket. And if you're you're sitting at home and you're on the chat, you can you can participate in this. My question is, what are your big questions?

What are your big faith questions? I know I have some. Like, I have a few that that kind of pop up for me. I don't know. Once every maybe it's once a week, maybe once once every month. Maybe it's one or a few months. And and and they're like, they're big questions. And,

and maybe I don't ask them because maybe I'm a little embarrassed to ask them. I'm like, well, you know, what do people think about me ask this question? I'm the I'm one of the pastors. I feel like I should know better. You know? Or or or I'm afraid what does that say about my faith because I even have this question. And, but but but I don't know. This is the place to do it. Yeah. If you're not gonna I mean, what good are big questions if you don't ever ask them? And it's not like God's afraid of your question. That's foolish. So, so anyway, if you have one, let's let's do that tonight. If you what are your big questions? And, and and maybe we'll take a stab at them. And maybe we got them too or maybe we don't, and we'll see how that goes. We're we're gonna do we'll touch on that. We're also gonna do a round of, America's fastest growing Internet game show, secular versus Solomon. Here's the basic nature of this game. I'm gonna give you a proverb, a bit of wisdom,

and you need to tell me whether it is a worldly proverb or what is a biblical proverb. So secular from the world, Solomon, biblical. And by Solomon, I mean, it's either in Proverbs or Ecclesiastes. That's your that's your root. And, if it is a secular proverb, you gotta tell me the country of origin. And the the whole point here is, like, where are we getting our wisdom? Right? Can we tell the difference between what is like a worldly bit of wisdom and what is a biblical bit of wisdom and, how we're living our life? So that's secular versus Solomon. We're gonna get to that. We also have some advice on deer alive from the path. I can't remember. Somebody have anyone have Pope style? I might have Pope style. Nobody? I I had a sweet metaphor about eating crumbs, getting stuck in a bowl, but I feel like it's been ruined. No. Overdone. It's overplayed.

Okay. I I might have some Pope's side advice. We'll see if we get to that. Buba has a sweet anecdote about giving gas and a lady at the gas station, so we'll get to that. Before we get any further, just a big shout out to our two sponsors. We have Bob Eisenhower with the Eisenhower team. Go to eisenhowerteam.com if you're looking to buy or sell a home. Hey. Actually, I was looking to buy a home recently, and I contacted Bob. And I'm kinda difficult to deal with, not necessarily my personality Yeah. But, like, when I can do things, like, I'm not available at reasonable hours.

And, and Bob was awesome. And John, his brother John, was also great. And, like, they made some accommodations for my wife and I to go out and take a look at some things, ask a bunch of questions. We tried something that we're pretty sure wasn't gonna work, but he's like, it's worth a go. And so he he submitted some stuff for us. It was, as always, what I told you about Bob Eisenhower is that he's awesome to work work with, and I, I reemphasize that now having dealt with him within the last week or two. So if you're looking to buy or sell a home, I I I honestly don't know a better guy to deal with. His his whole crew is just great. So that's eisenhowerteam.com, and, give give Bob a call. Even if you, even if you don't need to buy or sell a home, if you just like Life in the Path and say, hey, Bob. I just wanna let you know, thanks for sponsoring Life in the Path. Also, Westfield Veterinary Hospital right here in Johnston. For all your pet care needs, go to westfieldvethospital.com.

You can set up appointments online. I like that because I don't like dealing with people. And, I can set up an appointment, bring my dog or cat in. I just I've had my dog there recently. They did a great job. We felt very comfortable. The price was fair. They they just they they do great work. They care about you. They care about your pet. And, yeah, they're just great folks to deal with. So go to westville vet hospital, .com or or give them a call and, I don't know, get get your pet in there. You know you know you're not taking care of your pet. The economy was down five years ago when you cut services, and things have kind of rebounded, and you never reput the pet thing back in the budget. That's right. You got cable now, don't you? Yeah. That didn't stay away for long. You upgraded the satellite package. You know, you you started buying the, the more expensive meats at least twice a week or so. The dog is still sitting over there. He hasn't had his teeth brushed for two years. Mhmm. It's time to join the club, take him to Westfieldville Hospital. I imagine our mouse would have done a lot better this week had he gone there instead of in the bowl. Yeah. No doubt. Yeah. Yeah. No. That's that's very likely. Okay. So here's the deal. Let's

I don't know. Let's let's fire up I actually, let's do secular Solomon. Okay. Yeah. Let's start with secular Solomon. Yeah, buddy. Okay. I like to get I like to get prepared because this is a big deal. This is a big deal. Here you go. And now for America's fastest growing game show. Securian or

Solomon? Alright. Just a reminder of premise. I'm gonna give you a bit of wisdom. You need to tell me whether it's a biblical bit of wisdom or whether it a secular bit of wisdom. And if it's secular, I want the country of origin. Is everybody clear on the rules? Yes. Alright. If you're playing along in our home game, you can go ahead and type that stuff into the chat just so I know that you're you're with us, and you can keep score at home. Here we go. Secular

or Solomon? One pretends to be rich yet has nothing. Another pretends to be poor yet has great wealth. Secular or Solomon? Ben Michaels. I would have to say I'm gonna go Solomon

racking my vast knowledge of Proverbs, and I don't recognize it, but I'm gonna say Solomon. It sounds familiar. Okay. Hold on. Just for a heads up. Ben has answered, I don't believe it's in Proverbs based on my memory, but I'm gonna go with Proverbs. I mean Just for a heads up on how this game's gonna go. I'll buy that. I mean, I don't A noncommittal and very pseudo humble proverbs guess by Ben Michaelis. Minus

three points for his education. Dave Herrick. Solomon. Mike. That's a secular and Tulane.

That's a college, not a country. Well, that's unfortunate. Don't tell them that. Hey. Hold on.

Villanova. Constant disappointment. Venezuela. Sorry. Venezuela.

John Buba. I'm gonna go Solomon. I'm gonna go Proverbs 21. Alright. One pretends to be rich yet has nothing. Another pretends to be poor yet has great wealth. That is indeed Solomon. Proverbs thirteen seven.

Well, that's unfortunate for me. Yep. Yep. That was a rough go. Here we go. Secular or Solomon, every cloud has a silver lining. Every cloud has a silver lining. Secular or Solomon. Dave Herrick. Secular. Let's go with Italy. Italy, Mike. Secular, Botswana. Botswana. John Buba.

Secular Greece. Yeah. He does that. Yeah. Yep. So Ben Michael, secular Solomon. Secular America. Every cloud has a silver lining. It is indeed secular England. Oh, England, an English proverb. America is a pretty good guess. Directly next to Greece. English. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No. That was pretty They speak the same language. That's pretty close. Don't know Exactly. Dictionary? Right. Alright. Secular or Solomon, it is not a secret if it is known by three people.

It is not a secret if it is known by three people, secular or Solomon. Mike, I'm a live my life by that. That's a secular, and, let's go with, I'm not good with country's been Ireland. Ireland. John Bubba. Secular. China. Never trust a Chinaman.

Ben Michaels. Secular. Let's go Germany. Germany, they started two wars. Dave Merrick. Secular and Switzerland. Switzerland. A it is not a secret if it is known by three people. It is indeed secular

Ireland. Oh, my gosh. No. Alright. Three points Right off of the band, boys. Well done, sir. That doesn't make up for Tolu. Secular Solomon, I'll give you a bit of wisdom. You need to tell me whether it is a, secular bit of wisdom or one, biblical or is a Solomon. Here we go. Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. Secular or Solomon? John Buba. I'm gonna go Solomon. I'm gonna go Proverbs

six. Proverbs six. Ben Michaels. I'd say Solomon, Proverbs, but I'd somewhere in the single digits. Single digits. Dave Herrick? That's Solomon. Solomon Mike. Oh, man. He's I was gonna guess the singular. Solomon, I guess. Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. It is indeed Solomon Proverbs 19. Yeah. I totally nailed it. Your bombastic insistence that it's in single digits or a six is a shame upon your head. Hey, man. We were told that we were supposed to start doing chapter designations, and and I'm doing it. And you stink at it. I stink at it, but I'm still owning Okay. Fair enough. Secular or Solomon.

Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love. Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love. Secular or Solomon. Ben Michaels. I'm gonna say secular in America. It happens in America.

Dave Herrick. Secular. I also think America. K. Mike? No. That's English. Secular English. Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love. John Buba. I'm gonna go secular, and I'm going to go

Ghana. Ghana? Yeah. Ghana. Ghana? Just throwing darts at the top for you. It's g k Chesterton. That's who said it. Alright. So is that British or America? Yeah. Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love. Secular,

Turkey. Turkey. Dang. You elitist white folk. Oh, no. That had to be America. We say clever things. America. Strong as death, black as hell. That's us.

Tie up your boots, boys. We got a proverb. Sounds like Ted Turner. Yeah. Said that. Secular or Solomon. It is not good to eat much honey nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.

It is not good to eat much honey nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory. Secular or Solomon. Dave Herrick. That's Solomon. Mike. Yeah. That that does we got some Solomon all over it. John Bubba. Solomon Proverbs 12. You've been persuaded by their confidence. It may be a mistake. Ben, my Maybe. Solomon. I'm in for Solomon. My my son, eat honey for it is good. And the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

Wait. That's not the right one. That's the next one. No. No. It is not good to eat much honey nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory. That is indeed Solomon, Proverbs twenty five twenty seven. What was your chapter against that one? I said 12. Yeah. Yeah. That's a mistake. Yeah. Alright. Thanks, guys. Honey item number two. My son, eat honey for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. My food Yeah. Solomon, man. Don't wait a minute. You're trying to fool me. Secular Belize. Secular Belize, John Bubba. Man, the my son is really throwing me off because that's totally Solomon. Yeah. Yeah. He's he's coined the phrase my son. I know. But this whatever. Leave me alone. Alright. I'm going with Solomon.

Proverbs nine. Proverbs nine. Ben Michaels. Solomon. Solomon. Solomon as well. Okay. My son, eat honey, for it is good. And the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. It is indeed Solomon. Proverbs 24. That is a chapter before he said, it is not good to eat much honey. Solomon is a conflicted man. He's just talking about the amount of honey on the And

then he marries a thousand ladies. Alright. So here's the score so far. Mid game. Ready? Ben Michaels, you've got four. I've got four. Mike is in the lead with five. And Bulva, four. Yeah. That's right. Pretty close race. Here we go. You should also punish Bulva for incorrectly guessing the chapters. Hey, man. I'm just giving a shot. Take a couple of them.

Here we go. Secular versus Solomon. Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Wow. Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Secular or Solomon John Bubba? Solomon. Proverbs 15. Ben Michaels. Solomon. Dave Herrick. Solomon. Mike. Listen to me. If that's Solomon, I'm gonna need someone to speak into my life and tell me how I can apply that to me. Because I feel like I'm not using that phrase to its full extent. Okay. Oh, does does that mean your answer?

Solomon. Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. That is indeed Solomon. Proverbs twenty six six. Alright. Parse it, boys. You're coming to parse parse this in your across this in your bible reading. What are you supposed to do with this verse? To be fair, I already bailed on it. So I'm gonna need you guys to No. That's true. Chime in. Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence. Is it it's a foolish thing to do. Don't Yeah. Don't send a message by a fool. If you know the man's a fool, don't use the message. Why do you drink violence?

Yeah. Why do you drink violence? I mean, cutting off one's going violence upon yourself from the person you're sending the message to. Is that the automatic fix to every problem, violence? No. No. He's he's not saying that no. He's not advocating these violence. What he's saying is that if you send a fool to represent yourself, you're just gonna end up destroying that relationship. Who violence is a footless man? I mean, that's one that's one stone cold dude right there. Alright. Okay. So so he he took the long way around of saying, look, don't trust the fool. That's it. Yeah. Takes longer around saying anything. Cut off your feet. He'll violence you. I mean, seriously. Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke into the eyes is the so is the one

so is the slugger to one who sends him. It just picks long ways of safe safe stuff, man. I remember that because that was one of our secular solvents. Oh, that's true. Here we go. Secular versus Solomon. Begin to weave and God will give the thread. Begin to weave and God will give the thread. Secular or Solomon? Ben Michaels.

We're gonna go secular. Let's do India. India. Dave here. Secular Egypt. Egypt, Mike.

Solomon does not use the Lord's name that much. I'm gonna go with secular and Taiwan. Secular, Turkey. Alright. I'm hungry. Begin to weave and God will give the thread. It is indeed secular,

Germany. Dang. That's that's Turkey. Yeah. No. Yeah. That's what they call modern day Germany. It's Turkey. Definitely the same. Well, that was it. That's the end of the show.

Thank you. Who wins? Thank you for joining live from the fam. You know, catch us every Monday night starting at ten to eleven. Who wins, Dave Perry? Alright. Here's the score we've got. We have John Bola with five. We've got Ben over here with five. Myself with five. Our winner, reigning champion, Mike Foust. Even when I don't cheat, I win. This is fantastic. Hey, man. It's only because you get tired. Yeah. Here's the deal. I took all the pieces out of Candy Land so only one guy can play at a time. I win every time. Well done. The kids don't know chewing themselves. I try to let them use their fingers as game pieces, but they get distracted and they always put themselves back at the start.

Alright. That was Secular versus Solomon. Hey, if you if you enjoyed that game or you hated it and wanna mock it, you can go to lifefromthepath.org. We got a list of we got a game section with different variances of secular versus Solomon. And there's also a couple other games out there like what did we hear on Christian radio to raise money? That's a good one. And also, it's the end of the world as we know it. Do you know your in time false, I might add, in times predictions

that have been made. And that's all there at their website, lifeinthepath.org. Alright, boys. Hey, man. Real quick. Yes. I feel like we're getting better at this game. Yeah. Here's here's the deal. It's not as fun when people don't know the answers. You know what saying? It's fun when a guy does not know, and then we can make fun of him for a little while. And that did not happen very often there. Yeah. Two years ago, we had Dan going secular Epcot Center. And now we have all of us answering all of the questions correctly. Mike guessed Tulane and Villanova. Yeah. That's mine. Yeah. You just learned to deal with that. Alright. It's not funny to laugh at my life as it stands. He won, Buba. I know. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. That's Mike. He won with that attitude. He won off the Irish. Does that count? Hey. Just real quick. We

gotta thank you guys. If any of you got a chance to come out to the show that we had out of Zeke's last last Tuesday, it was fantastic. Yeah. It was really a good time. There's there's a I I promise you, there's there is bands out there that will blow you away with their talent and their heart for Christ, and you're missing them. They're missing them by doing the two cheek sit down and not ever coming out of the house and checking out some live music. So I I I really like to encourage you that if if you don't make any type of habit of going out and checking out some bands that are that are hot footing around the country for the Lord and really spreading some some gospel through some tunes. You you're really missing out. And so just just plan on attending one of the Life from the Past shows coming up. Yeah. Yeah. We'll have a we'll have a list probably within the next couple weeks out on the website and of stuff that we've got coming up both at Zeke's and potentially elsewhere. And yeah. Yeah. Should be a lot of should be a lot of fun. It's that was a great time. We we'll have some cuts, I think, from some of the bands that were out there, hopefully, again within the next couple weeks. And it's great. Yeah. It's great. Is awesome. Alright, boys. Here's the deal. What are your big questions? What are your big questions? The ones where they pop into your mind and and and that they're faith they're faith related, Jesus, God, whatever. Things that you wonder, things that you ponder, things that scare you that you're thinking about, things that maybe you're too embarrassed to ask. But but it's big. It's a it's a big thing. What are your big questions? Two things. Okay. That have continuously popped up in my faith for the last couple years.

Even more so when I felt like I was getting stronger in my faith. The first question is do I really believe in God? And I feel like a total schmuck every time I ask that question. Mhmm. I'm sitting around and and whether it be in church, it be in one of my bible studies, whether it be, you know, in accountability, whether it be in worship or anything like that. I'm just sitting there, and I really just start completely discrediting what is being spoken to me. And I'm just like, okay. Alright, guys. Let's not lie to each other anymore. Do I really believe what I'm hearing? Do I really believe that this god is real, that this god exists? Every time I've been able to go, what?

Shut up. Leave it alone. So far. But it it it pains me that I have that pop in my head. And the second one that quickly follows for the most part is do I really love God? Am I truly in love with God the way that I say I am? Because I know myself and I know my personality well enough to know that I can fake a lot of stuff. I can I can lie my way through a lot of situations, And I don't like that about myself, but that's what it is? And I can fake that, and I have faked faith before.

I have faked faith for years, and I don't want this to be so elaborate that I'm lying to myself. And then I'm convincing myself that I have faith when I really don't. Those are the two biggest ones that I tackle.

And so far up to this point, I've for the most part been able to answer those very quickly of, well, yes, of course, you do have faith. You do believe in God. You believe that this God exists and you you have faith in him. And then, yes, you love God. You do love God. This isn't fake. This isn't a joke to you. This isn't for fun or for show. This is real. But it's just it kills me that those happen. Do you guys have any similar experiences? You know, I'd have to say that I do. Like, I I I almost think that you're maybe not evaluating

your relationship correctly if that doesn't creep in every once in a while anyway. It's it's easier, like, let's say, if if you if you put it in a metaphor that god uses that Jesus uses a lot is the metaphor of marriage. Right? Like, I can relate to that on some extent. There are times, you know, in my marriage that it's not

how can I say this without my wife getting upset at me? But but with me continuing to be honest. There are times that it's not like it was when on your second date. You know what I'm saying? There's times when the when when when the butterflies aren't quite there as much when the the mortgage is a bit heavy and the kids tore the place up and the dog ran away and then, like, it just doesn't feel exactly like that. Yeah. But there's a base that you know is there, like, that doesn't leave. And actually, without you even noticing, you act as if that base is there. Right? Like, you don't have that let's say that butterfly feeling is not there right now, but your actions are built upon a base as if that the butterfly feeling was there at some point and that there was a relationship built at some point. Right? And and and so the the your outcome and your actions are are started in a direction that flow from where that foundation came from. And, like, without realizing it, you were acting while you're still standing on that. Right? And I I I feel like my

usually, when that kind of stuff creeps into my head, I have to default back to, you know, my feelings can't generally be trusted anyway. Yeah. Especially my feelings of anger, disappointment, impatience, whatever. Like, they're just not trustworthy feelings. But, like, if I can stop for a second and look around me and look where I my time has been over the last, you know, couple weeks and the things that are surrounding me, like,

I I I can tell they're all product of something that I I would really have to be phoning pretty hard, you know, to to to say that to prove to myself that I don't believe in this. You know I'm saying? Like Yeah. Either and and maybe Boob is right. Like, you know, maybe I've I've really convinced myself that this is the deal, and I've lied to myself for so long that I've built a sand castle to live in. But if that's not the case, then I believe I believe what I say I believe. I just don't have the butterflies at this moment. Just not this moment. Yeah. And and I think I I have that I have that same thing from time to time. It'll just be like a fleeting thing and say, you know, are you putting on a show?

And and generally, it's a it's a bit of a guilt thing. It's to it's to God it's weird because it's, like, directed to God and said, I got am I putting on am I putting on the show? Am I am I just going through the motions here with you? Which is weird because it's a thought that maybe I don't believe at all, but I'm talking to God in the process. And and anytime that I've had that experience, I'll I'll tell you this, and we'll see if this is similar to to what you've run into. It's never out of a place of evaluation. Right? It's never out of a place of of actually having

weighed the validity of what what is true if I didn't believe. Right? It's it is always a momentary thing that says, at this moment, I feel like either I'm not be I'm not authentic in in in my love for God or I am not maybe I'm not feeling it. And Mike's right. That's not that's not a good indication. What you feel is

almost never a good indication of what's true. Mhmm. But but yeah. But it's it's never comes from a place of evaluation. I've never sat down and said, well, you know, if if I'm willing to toss the air inerrancy of scripture because I believe these other things and then this is just not gonna work out. Like, I've never come to that type of conclusions. People that walk away from the faith that said, because I believe in x y z, I simply can't accept the bible for what it is. And if I can't do that, that's the foundation to face I'm out. K? I actually understand that reasoning. I've never done that. I anytime that that type of thing has popped into my mind or I've or I've spent any time thinking about it, it's never an evaluative thing. It's just a right at this moment. In fact, last week last week, I I was having this feeling. I I I really I'll admit that this hasn't really happened to me before, but I had this I was missing scripture.

I was missing it. I had done a lot of I've been doing a lot of studying because I've been doing a lot of teaching, but I haven't been reading, like, for me and God. Like, for me spending time with God and things that he said. And and it was like four days ago, I thought, like, I I I can feel it in my in my life that I'm missing this. I I actually have not had that feeling before. Mhmm. But I was really feeling it last week. And it's those types of things where, you know, the the the things that pop into your head,

aren't coming from any level of, you know, study, aren't coming from any level of of true evaluation. It's just it's a moment. And the question is how you deal with moments. Right? It's not wrong to have to have those types of moments. You have to there's just a reaction to them. There's a reason there's a reason that we are provided a bible. There's a reason that we are provided witnesses. The reason we are provided a community around us is so that those moments do not otherwise overshadow our lives and become something that they aren't really. We don't give validity to moments that are in themselves just points in time of which something occurred, and we have to react to them one way or the other. You know? But, yeah, I I've certainly had those types of experiences.

Some of them have been in low parts of my life where where, like, sin has been there and it's put my mind in a bad place. And then sometimes we're like, none of that was going on. And I just thought, I don't know. Things seem to be rocking along. Could it could it be true that God isn't here? Because I don't see him right now? You know, it's a two minute thought. And then it's gone. Yeah. And that and that happens with I don't know. That that happens with a lot of things in life. I don't know if that's even the special to God relationship type of thing. Just think, hey, maybe I should work someone else. No. Maybe I should no. You know, maybe I should marry someone else. Maybe I made the wrong move. What are you gonna do? I've I've I've put it in the same category as, like, you know, every once in a while, you'll it'll pop in your head like, what if my mom dies?

Or what happens if my wife is not here? Oh, man. You know I'm saying? Like, has that ever happened to you where you're like and and you're like, why am I even thinking about this? Actually, I thought we were we were in church on Sunday, and and Herrick was was preaching because Dan was at Rag Ride, and I thought, what if Dan dies? I killed Dan in my mind during the service on Sunday for no reason. Right. And and you're like, why am I even thinking about this? And you're like, I would be devastated. I'm servant. Would I cry? I'm not sure. I mean, there'd be other people to comfort that Dan's very important to a lot of people. Mhmm. But crap. You know what? I should probably go take communion next time.

I've never done the what if someone else dies, but I've done the what if I die thing. Yeah. What what happens when I die? I kill people off all the time. Wait a minute. Okay. So my brother does not count when it comes to that. I've killed my brother off my mind before, and I've repented for that multiple times. It's actually not fair if you're like, how great would life be? Yeah. Exactly. It's not the same thing when you go, man, what would happen if my brother died versus, man, I think I might kill my brother. Love you, Trey. I think that's a big question. Think I think a fair question. And I think the chat is right. I think there it is something that pops into most people's minds at some point or other. Mhmm. Herrick, have you had an experience with any of that? Oh, absolutely. I mean, a lot of my faith development happened before the days of the internet, so I wasn't able to get into online discussions with people who disagree with me. Instead, I was more or less raised in a church. But

in spite of that, I very much value the opinions and insights from people who did not grow up in the church, who they're aware of some of the messages from the church but vehemently disagreed with them. Some of them were agnostic, some were atheists. So as I would be in the church and I'd be exposed to different ideas, I'd also check it through just kind of the filter from other people's perspectives just so that I could

kind of weed out some of the fools and the foolish messages that you get even from within the church. Yeah. And I found it very valuable and something that's actually useful in forming my own faith is just being able to look at it from all kinds of different perspectives on that. So, yeah, I find that doubt actually helps to grow my faith, so I embrace it. Yeah. Yeah. My general reaction to me asking that question has been to no. You're right. Ben, not from an evaluation standpoint of of of really breaking down, you know, what's going on in my life more along the lines of I I reinforce myself Yeah. Of why I'm doing it. You know, I'll I'll go through the do I really love god thing and I'll think to myself, if I didn't, why am I doing this? This is funny. Yeah. Like, this is really stupid for me to do if I don't love god because half the time, if I didn't have a god standing behind me, stuff that I'm doing seems really dumb. Right. And it's just like, hey, man. Why are you, like, weirding people out and talking to them all the time about this kind of stuff? You just look dumb. If I don't believe in God, I'm just a creepy guy. Right. I mean, there's other things to advocate for that have a had a much easier connotation to your life's identity Mhmm. Than advocating for Christ. Mhmm. Yeah. I mean My life would be a lot like, from the comfort standpoint, a worldly comfort standpoint, my life would be a lot easier Mhmm. If, if I thought that this was it Mhmm. And then I just decided to live my life the way that my flesh wants to Yeah. Because this is it. Mhmm. You know the stuff that that that we're called to to abstain from. The stuff we're called to do from a worldly flesh standpoint

kind of sucks. Mhmm. Like that's it. Like I'm being 100% honest when I say that. It kind of sucks. It's like man I really want to do that. God's like no. It's like I know that. I really want to do that. No. You're not doing that. If I didn't have God going no, I'm just some idiot that's going, man, I really want to do that. Well, guess I'm not gonna. And that's it.

That's all I got. Well, this book seems really good read. I think I'm not going to after this. Mhmm. Yeah. It just makes no sense. Yep. Yep. Alright. That's a good big question, Buba. Mhmm. Thanks for sharing, man. Yeah. Yeah. What else? What are the other big questions? Well, I think, a question that's always popped into my mind is that idea of what if we're wrong? Like, what are the implications? And ultimately, that kinda leads to another question of just what are the stakes that we're playing for? You know, are the stakes really that high? Yeah.

You know, you read the claims of the Bible and and the claims of Jesus, and you go, wow. He we're playing for the ultimate stakes. If this is true, then really nothing else matters. Is that is that true? Like, can that be right? I I heard a preacher the other day talk about the trilemma, C. S. Lewis' trilemma, that when you read the claims of Jesus, you have to conclude that he's either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. You can't just say, oh, he's a good man and dismiss him. Yep. He's either one of those three things.

And once you realize that, you realize, Man, if Jesus' claims are true, this is the only thing worth living for. And if they're not true, then I'm wasting a lot of time doing this. Yeah. And so you reach those crises, I guess, those questions of, Oh my gosh, what if we're wrong?

But I think so often Christians, we're afraid of that doubt. We're afraid of doubt. And I think it's important that we realize that doubt is nothing to be afraid of. It's something it's a growing process that the spirit uses. It uses those questions, those moments to speak to us, those moments when God gets to talk to us and say, no, this is true,

and really helps us grow. I know the biggest growing points in my faith have been those times when I really wrestled with, why can't I see God? Like, how can God be real if I can't see him and touch him? Like, I that's I really wrestled with that, and and I I was able to grow through that. How do I have a relationship with a God I can't see? Yeah. Am I really praying to god, or am I just praying to the corner in the room? You know, that wall speck on the wall. Right. Am I awkwardly standing in a dark room talking to nobody? Because, I mean, that's that's psychotic. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. And I think God, the spirit really uses those moments to grow you. They're not something to be afraid of. They're something to embrace. They're something to, to search the scriptures diligently when you have those questions, to go to your Christian friends and and challenge them with their correct questions. You know, we don't we don't live this Christian life in a vacuum. We live in a community of other believers, and we can and you'll notice that all believers have these questions. Yeah. You're not gonna be alone. I think that's something we we fear when we have this doubt, like, oh, I'm the only one struggling with this question. No. We all have them. Yeah. So talk to each other about it. It's important that we talk about this and discuss these questions because you're gonna find that they have the same questions and the same answers. Well, and and that's the thing is is we've we've done a a disservice to people who are

who don't who don't know god by representing as if we are that distinct from them. Mhmm. Yeah. You you know, like, the the the same thing I the I've I've met a few of them, right? Like, people who don't believe in god and they have specific reasons and specific doubts and like, we share those. Now, I just did something different with them. Mhmm. Like, I I I sought an answer and I was able and I was willing to be satisfied. I was willing that God could be the answer to that, where some of them have just cut it off and said, I will accept any answer but God. Mhmm. So, you know, I that's the thing is is I guess, you know, we there's no reason to act like those things don't exist. And and like like we talked about at the beginning, like, is simply not afraid of those questions. And, you know, I love love the guy who's like, you know, Lord, help me with my own belief, but he did it posturing that, like, I trust that you will. You know, he was able to hold firmly to both and say, I know what's going on in my mind, but I'm believing what you're saying. And I trust that you will help me. Chad's question was, I can understand growing through that, and I know we all doubt, but I thought doubting

was a sin. Yeah, no. Yeah, that's a no.

Yeah, no. Yeah, that's a no. I don't know how to say that. I don't know. I mean, there's no. Yeah, no. It's running into a situation, and then your decision process afterwards

can walk down a sinful trail. But, like, it's faith, man. That's why they call it faith. If there wasn't any opportunity for doubt, faith would not be necessary. You know? Like, perfect a example was when Herrick was talking, I was thinking about this, but I told the girls that we were gonna start going through Genesis. Right? I said, we're gonna read all the way through Genesis. Let's sit down and do it. And so we did chapter one tonight about the creation of the we got through the first six days. And and and for some reason, like, I felt slightly hypocritical when I got to, like, day three or four. I'm like, this sounds preposterous.

Like, if I'm being honest, this sounds absolutely preposterous. You know what I'm saying? And, like, because my daughter looked at me, she goes, so Jesus was there. Right? I said, yeah. Jesus was there. She goes, when was Jesus born when he was not born on the earth? And I said, never. She goes, okay.

And then she smiles. And I'm like, why is it that easy? I'm like, I don't know. You know, like, I know, but I don't know. And I've gotta be okay with that. You know? And, like, sometimes that conversation stops Mhmm. You know, with with people who are who are agnostic or or or atheist. You know? They're like, well, God was never born. I'm like, I'm with you. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know how to explain that. Right. I'm sure there's a magic curtain that he can show me the deal maybe when I meet him. But, like, as of right now, I'm just like, the rest of the Bible pretty much says god is the answer to this problem. Right? Like, I don't know. I can't tell you the answer. I just know god's the answer. Mhmm. And so I I I don't know. Like, I I don't think doubt's sinful. Well, so Am I am I am I missing it? Okay. Well, so here's here's where I think it comes up. There's a couple of things. There's there's one bad place and then there's one good place to kind of have this conversation. Mhmm. In Romans 14, the end of it says, but whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats because the eating is not from faith, but whoever does not proceed from faith is sin. Mhmm. They focused on a a broad answer to a very specific issue that Paul is addressing. So, like Right. Yeah. That I would say is not a healthy place to kinda have that discussion. However, I think the beginning part of James does kinda touch on something which is rightfully

talked through. It says, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the lord. He is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways. So I think that's that's where that's coming from with doubt as a sin. And I think I think I get it. I I I think I get where that discussion is coming from. But I but look where the verse is posturing. Right? He's saying you're asking in faith with no doubting. It it's to the extent where you're approaching God saying, I believe saying, I don't believe you can do this, or I don't believe you will do the things that you said you would do. It's it's Mhmm. That's that's saying

that what God said about his character, I'm not sure is accurate. That I think is distinct from the thought where where God is God uses a Bible to basically I mean, Jesus makes the case for himself. Mhmm. You know I'm saying? And if if we were to accept something, even even if if creation around us is our only witness, it is still making a case. Right? When Paul's talking about that, it says, says, they know because they can see the creation around us. So, like, you know the existence of God, which which says,

like, God is presenting evidence. He's not above you saying, hey. I want I'm I'm demonstrating to you that I do exist, which means that there is a natural part of us that wants to say, is this true? Is it not true? So, like, I hesitate to believe that that's that's the angle which is part of James' covering. I think it's knowing what you should know or or taking what God has said and then saying, I don't know if I believe that you will do what you say you will do or that kind of thing. Is that that's and maybe that's not a fair distinction, but that's where I'm at with that distinction. Mhmm. Yeah. Quite often in our in our culture, we're gonna approach doubt very differently than they did back then. So when the Bible addresses doubt, he's not talking about, are you wrestling with whether or not exist God exists? They're looking at more along the lines of, are you actually trusting God? Is God powerful enough? Is God going to get involved type of doubt? They're not usually addressing that issue of does God exist or not just because it really wasn't a question that they asked. They lived in a very in a world that very much embraced the idea of the supernatural existing and that forces shaped the world and that kings were endorsed by whatever gods or or deities or whatever it was that was ultimately controlling everything. They they looked at that as that hierarchy. So I

forget where I was going with that. Train derailed. Well, but but I think I think to to kind of bring that point around is is in the enlightenment world and the post enlightenment world that we live in, We are in an environment that frames that discussion much differently. Right? Right. Yet you see it is a sore thumb that you believe in a god wouldn't have been like, regardless of which god it was, that's not that outstanding in in their time. Right. It is a much more maybe not controversial, but it's a much much different thing to say, I believe in a creator god of the universe in the environment that we're in. And so a little bit of of some of those things are creeping into our lives simply for the environment that we are being that we are surrounded by.

But, you know, we have the we have the promise that that we, although not insulated from it, will persevere through it. Mhmm. But that's the power of God. Right? Because, like, he very much recognizes that that's a risk that we that we run-in our circumstances. So, you know, definitely shoot us an email if you feel like we've not represented that James was right. That that that that I think is is what it's getting at. Mhmm. I, you know, I I was I was thinking about that when you guys were talking, but, like, I feel like I have I do have some doubt within my, you know, relationship with God, but it's mostly on my end. Mhmm.

Wondering if, like, if if, like I like the persistent widow peril you know, the story of the persistent widow. Right? Because it just, don't know. It shows god it it shows god's long suffering character. I really I I just really appreciate that. He's willing to listen to me and love on me even if despite what I'm asking. Yeah. But, like, a lot of the times when I pray, you know, I'll throw things out there and be like, you know, I I I feel like this is kind of the way for me to go.

I I'm gonna ask you to back this up. If if it's for you and if it's not, then great. You know, move me along. You know? And I feel a lot of doubt in those in those times. Not that God will not hold up his end of the bargain, but to be honest, whether I'm asking for things that are in line with what he would Yeah. Has going. You know what I'm saying? Like and I have a lot of doubt there, and I think I I think that's probably one of my major my big questions is is that there's there's a good amount of times where I'm like,

I I I am I missing what you're doing here? Am I missing Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Because I because I lose I lose confidence in the quiet. You know, when when God's loud and God's God's the body of Christ is loud and people are loud and moving loudly, I'm like, yeah. There's there's no question for me. Yeah. This sounds great. But in the quiet, when I'm just going to work and, you know, feeding the dog and I'm like, there's not a whole lot going on. This can't be on mission.

Can I stop? I'm stopping for a candy bar. Should I have given that to somebody in Uganda? I feel like I've done the wrong. Yeah. They should mail that guy a snickers. You know what I'm saying? And like, some of that some of that is petty. Some of that is petty and silly and I know that. You know, but, like, in the long sweep of things, you know, sometimes I feel like I just don't get it, if I'm being honest. Like, I just don't get it. I know what God's heart is. I know where God I know, you know, I know what Christ did for me. I got I got no problems in all these areas. But sometimes I feel like I don't I don't get it. And and I'm like a I'm like a guy with with 20 toys in the room and I'm like, I have no idea which one to play with that would make you happy. Well Right. And actually, I think this comes down to

shades of of what Ben Ben Michaels was talking about. We're talking about how what the consequence to what you believe. Right? Right. Like, if if this is true, the the the very heft of what we're talking about here, it means everything. And so the question then is is, like, is there ever a far enough? Mhmm. You know, say, like, yeah, you could ship that county candy bar to Uganda. People I mean, is that a petty thing? But, like, is it too far for the thing that means everything? Yeah. You know? And and I I think that's that's something that people who who love God struggle with is understanding, especially in the environment that we live in in The United States,

is like, you know, is there there's how could there be a too much? He gave if if Jesus gave everything Mhmm. As a sacrificial example, like, there can't be a too much on my plate. Mhmm. But, I mean, but I do need to feed the dog. But maybe I shouldn't have bought the dog to begin with. Now, I'm tied to it. Is it too much? That's right. Maybe I can't afford the dog. What? I don't you know what? If I get an apartment and loo and get rid of this house and get extra money, I can't even have the dog. Now what do I do? I got, like, three dogs. I already I already took the dog. Now I gotta get rid of him? It's a sinful puppy at your house. You know, the problem is is, like, it it, like, logically, which is where I tend to base back in. Like like, my faith sticks in a in a very

I have a fairly unshakable faith in that area. Like, I believe it. I can look around. I know the foundation where it's at. It's the it's the pins and needles where I have a hard time operating. And sometimes, like, I think, well, he can't really care that much whether I get this candy bar or not. But on the other hand, he cared when I told little little white lies on behalf of, say, my employer so they didn't look bad. You know what I'm saying? Like, little lies that are acceptable to everybody else. Like, well, your your ticket got lost. That's not true. We got busy and you weren't a priority. That was the truth. Right? But that's not what the guy at the front counter says because that's not his job, you know? And like, I got very convicted of of of living my life that way. Like and I thought, I can't I just I can't do that anymore. And so that's a little thing that three years ago I just said, you know, that's fine. That's the deal. That's just part of my job. That's what I do. And I'm like, I can't do that anymore. So it's a 100% honest now. And so the same thing is true with my money. And the same thing is true with my time.

All the things that three years ago, I said it's not a big deal and I'm thinking like, this candy bar is no big deal. But on the other hand, maybe it is. Maybe it's the turning point like the I lost your ticket or you know, it got lost in the mail, or, you know what I'm saying? Like, all the the the little things that I used to say that made my life easier. Yeah. The Snickers bar kinda falls in that same category for me. Right. Maybe there isn't such a distinction between secular and sacred. Right.

I think one of the dangers that, one of the one of the main questions that we wrestle with is, of course, how big is your God? Because so often we worship a God that we made up in our mind, not the God that made our mind. Yep. You know? And and so because we don't we worship a small god, yeah, we fear doubts because doubts really are a threat to the god that we created. Mhmm. But if we're worshiping the god that created us, then doubts aren't a threat because the god who created us is truth. No doubt's gonna assault that. And so I think it's important that we we were we're worshiping a god who's who's big, you know, bigger than me, but also a god who's so big that he cares about me as an individual. He created me as an individual, and then he died for me as an individual. He bothers to learn my name and know about me and care about me and care about the candy bar that I eat or don't eat. Or don't eat. Yeah. You know, care he cares about each and every every bit. And because he he died for each and every bit, and I I derive my value from that. But I think it's really important that we, yeah, we we worship a god who's who's big and also a god who's who's small.

You know, a god that cares about me as an individual, but also cares about the entire world and the effects on the entire world. Because then I think our doubts start to go away when we realize I'm more I'm doubting a god that I made up in my head. I need to be worshiping a god that made my made my mind. How does this help me with my candy bar? How does it help you with your candy bar? I mean, can tell you straight up, don't eat the candy bar. Yeah. It's dope. Yeah. Right. Don't eat the least you're thinking about the candy bar. That's not right. We got soda in here. I don't know if I drinking water and set the difference to the Uganda or the border. This is more from a, like, just life choice general situation.

Don't need to change the part. So I've got a question that's very similar to to Mike's here. So this is one of the questions that I struggle with. And I'll I'll kinda introduce it in two parts. The first one's gonna be the lightweight one. K. And it's essentially just I'm looking to God saying, hey. What's your perspective on this? In big decisions, in little decisions, is there something that I'm missing? Something really critical I should know? I should be because I wanna be able to evaluate a situation, whatever kind of conversation I'm involved in. I just wanna be able to evaluate it from God's perspective and be able to look at it that way. So as I am holding a candy bar in front of me, I wanna know, okay, God, do you think this is wise for me to eat this and gain the energy, or should I not spend the money here and do this some other way? And, you know, I I wanna get his perspective on it. Because it could be that, you know, I donate the money to some kind of organization,

and it never gets to Ghana. I don't know. Or it could just make no difference on the other side. Or the CEO of that company could buy a candy bar. Yeah. Exactly. Know? And so being able to get his perspective on just the people around around me as well. And that kinda leads into my second question, is, God, I don't want just your perspective on the situations around me and or even just the people around me. I wanna know, God, how do you see me? How do you look at me? When when you look at me, what do you think? What comes to your mind Yeah. When when you see me? And

that's something that I I still struggle with. So I I I wanna get God's perspective both on the world around me, but also on myself. I I wanna know how do you see me, God? So No. I I actually, I've been I've been thinking about that, a lot lately because, you know, so often when we approach God, we approach him

with either either acknowledgments of who he is or repentance of what we've done. Mhmm. And very, very, very and there's there's a hesitance to talk about who we are as people Mhmm. As if the for fear of vanity. Mhmm. For fear of vanity. Like, Lord, I came to to go approach God booba style. Right? And say, hey, I wanna talk about myself for a while, dude. Right. Hey. Hey, back. I'm gonna speak about me. That is so incredibly wrong, man. Approach God booba style, really? You have your own style. All I'm saying is I don't wanna be like smited at any point in time. We should stop.

Let's talk about me for a second. It's a big god. I'd I'd reach out. So so so I think there's there's a thought that that we that we stay away from that as if God is not interested in us and that we should stay out of the conversation. That God basically wants to hear a submission of platitudes that he provided in the Bible that we're to just regurgitate back to him. Right. I'm not sure that's the character that I get from him. Mhmm. Now I lean on those words a lot because he said them better than I. Mhmm. Right. He's captured them better than I could. And frankly, his perspective is always true, and mine is like, sometimes.

Okay? So so, yes, I I certainly lean on those words to help me understand him better. However, yeah, the the the thought process that says like like if it it to be in a true relationship with god, it you you get feedback. Right? Like, I know from my spouse how my spouse views me. Mhmm. And and it's perfectly legitimate to approach God and say, I I want to know because I

you know, we're in this relationship and and not I I want to serve you as God and and I want to worship you, but like I I I also do. I have a desire to know, like, what what is what is this relationship like? Like, how do you see me? I think and that's an interesting question because I I think what it does, it actually it starts to engage us with God our creator as opposed to basically mailing in postcards. Mailing in verbal postcards. Hey. Checking in, God. Here's what I had happened to me. Or, hey, checking in, God. I miss you because things are great with you. You're actually engaging with God. And, like, that is that is the utmost of that prayer opportunity.

But a lot of times, we we use that opportunity basically to to send him a postcard or do the the Facebook billboard that we talked about last week. And and it's it just seems like god hasn't shut down that relationship, but we we sometimes struggle with what's the right way to approach him, and that's that's what we end up doing. Alright? Yeah. I agree. That's heavy. Okay. What do we oh, shoot, man. We gotta go. We gotta oh, man. You got some dear life from the past? Yeah. Let me we'll fire one up. We'll we'll get the answers on the flip side. Okay. Dear life from the past. I'm a young woman hoping to find the one, but I have come to realize that I'm not the normal female. I do not get manicures or go shopping. I hate shopping. When I meet a guy, he likes that I'm me, but if we get too serious, then I'm either too independent, too outspoken, or not girly enough. I don't wanna change myself or pretend to be someone I'm not. One minute, they like that I'm independent and can fend for myself. The next, they don't like that I don't depend on them to pay bills, etcetera. Mhmm. Why is it always a double standard? Men like strong women until they are with one, then they can't handle it. Maybe I'm too much for the men where I live. Is it possible for me to find someone independent?

Actually, we got we got time to help to answer this one. Oh. Do you just live in a small town? I mean, is that what's Yeah. What what is there? A section of the country with a bunch of it says independent female in Louisiana. Okay. Yeah. A lot of small towns in Louisiana. Okay. Alright. Oh, wait. So you're you're agreeing with her. Yes. It's viable that you just live in a a a town that's not gonna put up with you. No. Okay. So here's what I think.

Based upon her based upon her premise, I feel like she may think too highly of herself. It is it is likely that she's in fact, it's becoming more and more likely that you run into fellas like that who are intimidated by a stronger woman. I'm with you. I where that might be the case, so I can sympathize with that. It is likely not every guy. Unless, as this strong willed woman,

you keep picking out guys so that there's no threat to your what you obviously feel very proud of Mhmm. Is the strong will in your life. And so you don't want to come across the man who you feel like might might otherwise desire or or act in what would be a traditional male role. And so you avoid those guys because they make you feel awkward. You're in you're used to or desire to be in the position of control over these kind of suspended pansy fellas. And so, I mean, that's who you keep hitting it up with. Listen. Everybody has a hard time getting along with somebody they're extremely strong willed. You know I'm saying? Like, that's true of all relationships, not just opposite sex relationships. Right? Oh, yeah. That's true. Like, everybody works with some guy. He's just he's confident and right about everything. And, like, he'll take care of it himself, and he doesn't need your help for nothing. You're like, man, I'm having a hard time getting all that guy. Yeah. That personality trait is right. It's not exclusive

to a a romantic relationship. Yeah. This is not about you all the time, booba. Alright. We're gonna give our our final bit of advice

when we come out of the break. If you're on 99.3 k k a, we have got to let you go. Thanks for hanging out with us. Big thanks to Bob Eisenhower with the Eisenhower team and Westfield Veterinary Hospital. Like I said, if you're on the podcast, we'll be right back with you. Give us about thirty seconds. You've been listening to Fly From The Pack. Google, why do you keep doing that? Is that just your normal state? Is to stand there moving your eyebrows around? Like some kind of mystic Arab? Yep. Mystic Arab.

Yeah. Like, I'm thinking of the not Arab. India. Like, the who's the guy from the Mike Tyson's Punch Out? The Oh, the the the tiger. The great tiger. The great tiger, man. Yeah. That's who I'm thinking of. Yeah. He always doing this business. Yeah. And, like, that's that's what Buba's eyebrows remind me of is that type of actually, it's Piston Honda that does the eyebrows. Don't they all do the eyebrows? No, man. No. No. Just Piston. I was trying not to make this about me. Okay. Alright. But I like the way my eyebrows dance. Yeah. I know. Yeah. But what do do with this strong willed woman? Yeah. So

I'm I'm in agreement with you guys. I think that this gal has been looking for the weak dude that,

that does not challenge her her independence, that she can let have latch onto her rather than the other way around or rather, excuse me, than it'd be a mutual relationship.

She enjoys the power that she has and therefore looks for the guy who has no power. And that guy is intimidated by the power that she has. Likes the strong concept of a woman, likes the the concept of someone who's not dependent on him Yeah. Because he can't be dependent on. Actually, yeah. I I suppose that's that's the basic nature. Right? Like, if you are if you are approaching a relationship in which you say, I do not want to have to depend on a man,

that's gonna be a very rough romantic relationship to say, hey, I refuse to be dependent upon you. Then you're you're actually just you're hiring a roommate. Right. Right. You know what saying? I am dependent upon my wife. Yeah. And she is dependent upon me. Right. It shouldn't be one person's dependent on the other. It should be a relationship that's mutually dependent upon each That's right. When you get married, it's not eighty twenty. Yeah. Yeah. You should work together and partner together to be, you know, strong in different roles, but action off each other to be strong together. I wanna dominate him and otherwise not give myself over to this relationship, and no one wants to be in a relationship with me, and I'm upset. I don't understand. I've I've left to date a bathroom rug. No. That's it. Like like I said, I'm gonna sympathize. I I I do think, like, you you are running out of the type of man who has accepted

what I believe are the man our responsibilities of man in a relationship. Like, that are running from that. And basically, that are looking for some some gal to carry him around. I don't know how she's probably running into these fellas who, like, wanna hang out and not do anything all day. Yeah. Who's not to say that she's I mean, she might be 75% accurate. Yeah. Yeah. I'm not saying it doesn't happen. But, like, the truth of the matter is, like, it like, any any type of strong like, with with with generalized confidence comes almost a half wall of me listening to you because I'm pretty much confident I'm right. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like,

a relationship, in marriage, you pretty much gotta get rid of that wall. It doesn't matter if you're right or not. You know what I'm saying? Like, you have to be at least willing to have the conversation Yeah. And and and and do it as a team. And if you're not willing to even do that because you're too independent, you know, I don't even I I I I don't think you have a formula for a successful marriage even if you do find a guy that's willing to put up with that. Yes. You're just gonna get mad at him five years for not five years from now for for being, you know, incompetent and not fulfilling, not adding unto you. You know, you're basically giving a guy no opportunity to add to your life. And therefore, like, your marriage will be eighty twenty, and you'll feel like you're pulling the card all the time. And I give it five years for you're tired of doing that. And so so if we have to so we have to actually provide some fruitful advice. Here's the two things that I would say. One, don't settle. Don't settle for a loser just because you're you're running through a bunch of fellas. It doesn't mean that it's not a numbers game. Keep waiting. Keep waiting. Keep looking. Second thing would be make sure that what you're bringing to the relationship is something that the person that that with the personality that you're looking for would actually want. Right? If if it's someone that you want to to love you and to be in, like, an intimate close relationship with you and you basically want to dominate them and otherwise not not have to give anything up to be part of this relationship, then I think that's where you're running into trouble. So, like, make sure that what you are entering into the relationship with is something that would otherwise be attractive for the person that you're looking for. I don't I don't know. Something about this isn't quite quite adding up. You're you're painting her as as someone who just wants to dominate every relationship that she's in. That's that's what she said. But that's not really the profile of someone who writes to perfect strangers asking them for advice. Except to be I don't but is she actually posturing for advice? She didn't she seems like she's just looking for validation, like a confirmation. Because what was the last thing she said? She wasn't like, hey. I need a bunch of help. No. It says, is it possible for me to find someone? That's what I'm saying. Like, it's am correct. She's she her the the very posturing of the question is, I'm right. Where will I find someone? That's right. Okay. Good Who acknowledged me? Well, someone that will bow to my waist.

Here we go. Sekular says, welcome to the wonderful world of dating. While some may think of dating as a popularity contest, it's really more like sifting for a gold nugget. It takes a lot of people years to strike gold, and it's the same with dating. Is it possible to find someone? Absolutely. But it takes time, stamina, and a sense of humor to survive the process. You could have put that on a plaque somewhere. Yeah. Lame motivational poster. I'm just saying she that might have let her off a little easy. Even by her description, I feel like there's there's something about how she's approaching these relationships that is otherwise reducing her chances of finding something that is lasting. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

Dear life from the path. Would it be okay for an 80 year old man to take a 50 year old woman to supper? We often talk together at church. That's it? That's the question. Yes. Commit at church? Yeah. Mhmm. Absolutely. Go. Have fun. Wait. Wait. Michaels, where where would they have met that you would have been unacceptable? I don't know. At a church, it's God's blessing. It's gotta be. I don't know. Are you working? Christian radio?

Yep. I bought an advertisement on this station. Yeah. You could take her out there. Yeah. What's secular's answer to this one? Hey. Yeah. I mean, unless you're unless you're married to some other 80 year old woman. Yeah. Probably fine. He forgot to put the but Gladys won't know. Hey. Do you think that this is lady number one and man number two? Like, they are the same

she's a strong willed 50 year old, and he's like this he's this real impish guy who's like, My eyesight isn't what it used to be. Can you drive me somewhere? Oh, here we go again. Mister can't take care of himself. Okay. Yeah. Secular's advice was, yeah, only if she says yes. That's what Secular said. Wow. Solid. Alright. Yeah. Executive. Let's see.

No. No. No. That's not gonna work. That's not gonna work. Hold on. Here we go. Dear life from the path. My husband drives the car with his knees while shaving, drinking coffee, brushing his teeth, talking on the cell, and using one hand to steer. Knees and one hander. That's not necessary. The knees will cover it. When I complain, he makes fun of me and says, those that can do. Wow. I love this. Yeah. Here we go. That's great. I have a shotgun passenger seat and would prefer death to be paralyzed in an accident he causes. When I see him with a coffee headed to the car, I insist on driving. But sometimes, I don't catch him in time. We've been married for thirty years, and I know he loves me and isn't trying to kill me. He reads your column, so maybe you can help me get through to him. It just sounds like a couple of hints together. Pick on a guy. This guy's a ripe candidate for natural selection.

Hey. Well, hey. Except for he's got life mastered. Everyone else is waiting to do these things separately. He's knocking them all down at once. Yeah. I I feel like that's not fair to the man. He's still alive, isn't he? Yeah. So so I mean, so in the terms of natural selection, he's validated that what he's doing is correct. Yeah. And the fact that they've been married thirty years, he's had ample time to reproduce. So well Yeah. And he's keeping a solid marriage going. That's right. I guess that's just evidence that God must really love this man. Hey.

He's a man among men. If you saw the same guy driving an earth mover, drinking coffee, shaving. You know I'm saying? Steering the thing and also building half of downtown, you'd be like, that's the coolest man I've ever seen. Hey, man. Can I get your autograph on it? Yeah. He's also Greek stories about this man. I'm telling you. He should have a statue to it. Let me draw you, sir.

What? Said, me draw you? What? Oh, yeah. I will forever be wary of Voova with a sketch man. If it's gonna come out as a stick figure, don't worry about it.

Man. Azur, that was great. Can I draw a sketch of you? Are you chiseled out of marble? Yes. Yes. That's what I was saying. Let me make a sculpture. Okay. Wait. Wait. Let me give you time to clarify. What did you mean by that? Fully. Hey. Do what you're doing right now but stay right there. That way, I can draw this. There was no other conversation. Just a record, a pencil sketch of your own doing of that circumstance? I want that. I want to sell that painting to people so they know hope I never impress Muba.

Me draw you. Bubba's hubris knows no bounds. He can't He doesn't. He could just take a picture, but instead he wants his own I need to take my own his own hand with the circumference. That photograph had nothing to with me. My hands didn't do nothing for the perspective I used and the slate pencil that I bought. This is the best drawing ever. Here we go. Okay. Don't did anybody have anything bad to say about this man? I mean, Thursday. I'm for it now. I feel like he's got his thing under control. Now I'd do it if I could. Those who can do, is that secular or Solomon? That's my question. Those who can do. That's sweet. It's a it's a pogrify. I mean, there's a bit of hubris in there somewhere. But Second opinions. Are you confident before the lottery? You know what I'm saying? Here we go. Secular says, what your risk loving husband is doing falls under the category of distracted driving.

Eating, drinking, grooming, using a handheld cell phone are against the law in some states. I noticed those four things there. That's complete. Because folks who steer with their knees and use their rearview mirror to shave, practice dental hygiene, or apply makeup have been known to cause serious accidents. Mhmm. Hey. Hey. I'm agree. We were driving Ames, and Herrick almost got out of the car because I was I was factioning a text to my wife. Yeah. But he was not committed enough to actually leave

just to make a mild threat. It says, since you haven't been able to get through to your husband, hang on to the car keys or insist that he finish with his activities before starting the ignition. And if you won't cooperate, for your own safety, get out of the car and arrange for other transportation. Okay. Here's the hard part. Like, distracted driving causes a lot of accidents and and and things, very, very bad things have happened.

I I feel like she's may have painted a cartoonish version of this man that has, you know, six Vishnu hands and seems to be getting a bunch of stuff done at the same time. You eating pancakes? Stuff it up. I mean, you know, I I I yeah. I mean, I don't know what I don't know what to say. I'm guilty of this. I've shaved while I've dry not like, you know, not like shaving cream and razor. You know? I mean, I don't know how you brush your teeth. I mean, as soon as you spit it out the window, it comes right back in or hits the back window. Like, you can't do that with any class. But I don't know. Just watch your Hey. You ever tried to change your pants? Yep. While you're driving? Yeah. Yes. That's a feat. It is indeed. You need some open highway and a good radio. I've taken off my shoes, quickly realized that I had to use the restroom and had to put my shoes on all while driving. I did not stop and then put my shoes on. I was trying to put them back on shoes off to go to the restroom. I I took them off because I was driving a really long way, and my shoes were really uncomfortable. And then when I was driving you buy uncomfortable shoes?

Because there's not really that many options for me, man. Yeah. Okay. It's fair. There you go. She's life. Keep the shoes on, man. Okay. Here we go. Last one. Those who can do. Yeah. With the shoes off, shoes on, bathroom, shoes back off. Dear life from the path, neither of my parents do anything for fun. When dad comes home from work, he either reads the newspaper or takes a nap. If mom has free time after finishing the housework or running errands, she watches the news on TV or goes to bed early. I never thought it was unusual because it had been this way since I was growing up. But once I was in high school, I started hearing classmates talk about their parents' friends or hobbies, and I realized my parents are different. They don't even listen to music or read books. When I want to go out with my friends, my parents act annoyed and wonder why I wanna want to go out instead of staying at home. Are there other people out there like this, or are my folks unusual? Here's the deal. Your parents are annoyed because now they have to worry about you, and they're used to not doing much. They wanna put a whole lot of time in this thing. Are you saying are there people out there that that read the newspaper? I feel like it's been going strong for a while, so I'm a say, yes. There are.

They're not catering to the one person that's reading the newspaper and still putting up thousands of issues. Here's the deal. You and your parents have two different ideas of fun. You think one thing is fun because you're in high school. They think one thing is fun because they're adults and have had time to formulate that as their fun. Mhmm. Leave them alone. They're having fun. This is hard for people to understand. It's hard for me to get. It's looking at people as as being different than you. You know what saying? Like,

some people get rejuvenated by quiet time. Some people get rejuvenated

by being around other people and being filled with action or or other things going on or having activities like it increases their, you know, their fulfillment. And and, like, you just have to realize what camp you sit in and where what camp the people around you sit in and and do your best to try to respect that. You know, like, some I have a hard time with a lot of people because they get refilled by being around other people, and that's not me. I get refilled by being by myself. And so sometimes it makes it very hard for, you know, for us as a team to come up with something to do or or or ways to interact.

But I think if you can look at it as a as a a bigger perspective, then, you know, I just leave your parents alone. They're not causing you any trouble. Seriously. Mhmm. You're you're a teenager apparently. So your parents are, yes, weird, but so are all your friends' parents. They're weird too. They're just weird in different ways. Yeah. Right. And if you have you have both parents at home and you apparently have a decent relationship enough to talk with them and wanna hang out with them, I mean, you won the lottery compared to most of the kids in high school these days when it comes to parents. Most kids don't even you know, they don't definitely don't have both parents at home. And Mhmm. If they do, it's probably not a good relationship. That's true. It's not like they're trying to make you stay home. Right. They're just they just don't understand your decision. Why would you wanna go out? We got the newspaper. We got the dog here. I feel like there's no reason to leave. Have you seen the news recently? That's great. Yeah. I mean, there's a distinction as to whether,

like, the things that they're doing they're doing because they're, like, it's they're unhealthy or those are just the things they enjoy doing. And I think that's probably the distinction. If they if they seem to enjoy them, I mean, I don't like to bake. Some people like to bake. Some people like there are things that people consider fun that I consider work. And I don't want anything to do with. You know? But if they if they they seem to enjoy themselves, yeah, there just isn't any reason to have a have a big deal about it. Yeah. That's that's actually true. It's not like I turn on the TV halfway through the day and find that gal that know, shows people how to cook and I'm like, oh, this is disgusting. I I how would anyone waste their life like this? Stop

baking that turkey and go out. That's right. Here's what Segular says. Segular says, at the end of a busy day, many people wanna simply unwind rather than look for things to do. Reading the newspaper, napping, or watching the television news are some of the ways they do that. While your parents may be more introverted than those of your classmates, I don't think they are particularly unusual. The question you should ask yourself is, is their relationship working for them? And if the answer is yes, be glad. What's natural for some families isn't for everyone and neither is the idea of what's upon you. You have been listening to Live From The Path. Thank you so much for joining us this week. We talked about some big questions. For God, we played secular versus Solomon, which Mike unnaturally dominated with this with a firm Irish answer. Hooah. And took the cake. We also gave out some advice on dear life in the past. Look, take take the old lady out to dinner. Stay home if you want to. That's the basic nature of the advice. And if you're dominating woman who always finds a fancy man and is upset about it, quit looking for fancy men.

We're gonna have to let you go. Thanks so much for hanging out with this. Go to lifepath.org. You can check out past clips from the shows. That includes the performance. Hey. I remastered one of the I surrender all never once by a chain of producers, Jordan Taylor when they're in here. I love that song. They did a great job with that. Go check that out. And, yeah. Yeah. That's all we got going on. Big thanks to Ben Michael for coming in. Thanks, Ben. And, we'll talk to you next week. Thanks for listening to Live From The Past.